Cosmetic composition

ABSTRACT

A cosmetic composition comprising a hydroxy material selected from; 
     a) layered double hydroxides of formula 
     
         [M.sub.(1-a) N.sub.a (OH).sub.2 ].sup.y+ X.sup.x-.sub.y/x.zH.sub.2 O(I) 
    
     b) a hydroxy salt of formula 
     
         [M&#39;(OH).sub.(2-a&#39;) ].sup.a&#39;+ (X.sup.x-).sub.(a&#39;-/x).zH.sub.2 O(II)

The present invention relates to a cosmetic composition. In particular,it relates to a cosmetic composition comprising a hydroxy materialselected from layered double hydroxides and hydroxy salts, which aresuitable for treating the skin and delivering thereto benefit agents.

Layered double hydroxides of formula

    [M.sub.1-a) N.sub.a (OH).sub.2 ].sup.y+ X.sup.x-.sub.y/x.zH.sub.2 O

where

M is selected from divalent metal ions and lithium;

N is a trivalent metal ion;

X is an anion of charge x-;

y+ is the net charge on the mixed metal hydroxide cation; and when M isa divalent metal ion "a" is a number from 0.17 to 0.5 and y=a; and whenM is lithium "a" is a number from 0.67 to 0.75 and y=(2a-1); and

z is a number from 0 to 10;

and water-insoluble hydroxy salts of formula

    [M(OH).sub.(2-a) ].sup.a+ (X.sup.x-).sub.a/x).zH.sub.2 O

where

M is at least one divalent metal ion;

a is a number in the range 0.05 to 1;

x is the charge on the anion; and

z is a number from 0 to 10;

are, respectively, described in Meyn et al., Inorganic Chemistry, 29,5201 (1990) and 32, 1209 (1993).

In both of these structures the metal ions occur in layers in which themetal ions are connected together through the OH groups and the anionsX, are located in interlayers between layers of metal ions. Furthermore,it is known that X can undergo ion exchange to be replaced by otheranions eg organic anions.

Aluminium magnesium hydroxy fatty acid compounds of formula

    Al.sub.x Mg.sub.y (OH).sub.3x+2y-z R.sub.z nH.sub.2 O

where R is an aliphatic monocarboxylate containing between 12 and 22carbon atoms;

x=2

Z≦y≦10

z=2 and n is an integer greater than zero

and their use in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations together withorganic lipophilic compounds is known from EP 419 759.

Various applications for these types of hydroxy materials have beendescribed in the scientific literature, notably including their use aschemical catalysts.

The hydroxy materials can be used as sunscreen agents in sunscreencompositions if at least some of anions display ultraviolet absorptionover at least a portion of the UV wavelength range, 290 to 400nanometers. Such materials are described in PCT/EP 94/02669 and EuropeanPatent Specification No. 557089.

According to WO 94/10972 cosmetic compositions comprising specific Zn/Allayered double hydroxides have been found to have antimicrobialactivity.

Applicants in their search for systems which deposit benefit agents, forexample moisturising and conditioning agents, onto skin haveunexpectedly found that the aforementioned hydroxy materials can beemployed in a cosmetic composition to deliver the benefit agents.

Thus, according to the invention there is provided a cosmeticcomposition comprising a hydroxy material selected from;

a) layered double hydroxides of formula

    [M.sub.(1-a) N.sub.a (OH).sub.2 ].sup.y+ X.sup.x-.sub.y/x.zH.sub.2 O(I)

where

M is selected from divalent metal ions and lithium;

N is a trivalent metal ion;

X is an anion of charge x-;

y+ is the net charge on the mixed metal hydroxide cation; and

when M is a divalent metal ion "a" is a number from 0.17 to 0.5 and y=a;

when M is lithium "a" is a number from 0.67 to 0.75 y=(2a-1); and

z is a number from 0 to 10; and

b) a hydroxy salt of formula

    [M'(OH).sub.2-a') ].sup.a'+ (X.sup.x-).sub.(a'/x).zH.sub.2 O(II)

where

M' is at least one divalent metal ion;

a' is a number in the range 0.05 to 1;

X is an anion of charge x-; and

z is a number from 0 to 10; and

c) mixtures thereof; and

wherein at least some of X comprises the anionic form of a non-sunscreenskin benefit agent.

Preferably x is other than an aliphatic monocarboxylate having 12 to 22carbon atoms.

The invention also relates to the use of the hydroxy material ashereinbefore defined to deliver benefit agents to skin treatedtherewith.

Hydroxy materials as hereinbefore defined can be preformed beforeformulating into a cosmetic composition. Alternatively, they can beformed in situ in the composition as a result of interaction of anhydroxy material where X is an anion other than that derived from a skinbenefit agent, and such as nitrate, chloride and sulphate, with a skinbenefit agent.

The hydroxy materials of the present invention are macromolecules and,therefore, when they have deposited they are not prone to penetratingthe skin.

Included amongst the skin benefit agents are those materials whichcondition the skin (stratum corneum) and keep it soft by retarding thedecrease of its water content and/or protect the skin. Preferably theskin benefit agent is selected from anti-ageing agents such asalpha-hydroxy acids, examples of which are glycolic, lactic andalpha-hydroxycaprylic acid, anionic derivatives and salts thereof suchas lactates, glycolates, acyl lactylates and acyl glycolates;moisturising agents such as pyrrolidine carboxylic acid and amino acids;organic antimicrobial agents such as 2,4,4'-trichloro-2-hydroxy diphenylether (triclosan) and benzoic acid; anti-acne agents such as azelaicacid; anti-inflammatory agents such as acetylsalicylic acid andglycyrrhetinic acid; anti-seborrhoeic agents such as retinoic acid;vasodilators such as nicotinic acid; inhibitors of melanogenesis such askojic acid; and mixtures thereof. Where the skin benefit agent is in anacid form it must be readily ionisable to give an anionic species.

Preferably the hydroxy material is present in the composition of theinvention in an effective amount, ie from 0.1 and up to 100% by weightof the composition, in the case of powders. Without being bound bytheory, it is believed the hydroxy material releases the skin benefitagent by at least three mechanisms:

i) ion exchange of the benefit agent with unwanted sebaceous acid oranions on the skin;

ii) sebaceous acids dissolving the hydroxy material thereby releasingthe benefit agent; and

iii) ion-exchange of skin benefit agent with chloride present insalt/sweat excreted from the human body.

During use of the cosmetic compositions according to the invention, inorder to achieve maximum benefit the skin benefit agent should bereleased from the hydroxy material and delivered onto the skin beingtreated.

The cosmetic composition according to the invention is primarilyintended as a personal care product for topical application to the skinand/or for cleansing the face. It may also be used for washing the hairas well as the whole body. The composition according to the invention ispreferably used as a facial make-up eg. foundation, lipstick; face-pack;facial cleansing mask; facial cream, preferably a "leave-on" product;facial cleanser, which is generally a "wipe-off" or "rinse-off" product;facial wash foam; hair shampoo; body shampoo; bath foam; or shavingcream.

The cosmetic composition may take the form of a powder; or a liquid, gelor emulsion intended to be dispensed from a capped container such as abottle or tube, a pep-operated or propellant driven aerosol dispenser; asolid such as a stick, bar or tablet to be used in a similar manner to aconventional soap bar.

Depending on the skin benefit agent, the hydroxy material may besuspended in an aqueous vehicle or in an oil phase. Water-in-oil andoil-in-water emulsions may be used. If the skin benefit agent is alactate an aqueous system is preferred whereas when a C₁₂ alpha hydroxyacid is used an oil phase is preferred.

When the cosmetic composition according to the invention is in the formof emulsion it also comprises a cosmetically acceptable vehicle to actas a dilutant, dispersant or carrier for the hydroxy material andbenefit agent. Suitable vehicles include water, oils and solvents suchas ethyl alcohol. The cosmetically acceptable vehicle will preferably bepresent in an amount from 10 to 99.9% by weight of the emulsion and may,in the absence of other cosmetic adjuncts, form the balance of thecomposition.

When the composition is in the form of a powder it may comprise acarrier for example chalk, talc, fullers earth and kaolin.

When the cosmetic composition is intended as a facial cleanser, facialwash foam, hair shampoo, body shampoo, or bath foam, it preferably willbe in the form of an aqueous liquid additionally comprising a surfaceactive agent. The surface active agent can be selected from any knownsurfactant suitable for topical application to the human body such asamphoteric, nonionic and cationic surface active agents and mixturesthereof but excluding anionic surface active agents. This is becauseanionic surface active agents may undergo ion exchange with the hydroxymaterial.

Mild surfactants, ie. surfactants which do not damage the stratumcorneum, the outer layer of skin, are particularly preferred.

Suitable amphoteric surface active agents have an alkyl or alkenyl groupof 7 to 18 carbon atoms and comply with an overall structural formula##STR1## where R¹ is alkyl or alkenyl of 7 to 18 carbon atoms R² and R¹are each independently alkyl, hydroxyalkyl or carboxyalkyl of 1 to 3carbon atoms

m is 2 to 4

n is 0 or 1

X is alkylene of 1 to 3 carbon atoms optionally substituted withhydroxyl, and

Y is --CO₂ ⁻ or --SO₃₋

Within the above general formula are included simple betaines offormula: ##STR2## and amido betaines of formula: ##STR3## where m is 2or 3.

In both formulae R¹, R² and R³ are as defined previously. R¹ may, inparticular, be a mixture of C₁₂ and C₁₄ alkyl groups derived fromcoconut so that at least half, preferably at least three quarters of thegroups R¹ have 10 to 14 carbon atoms. R² and R³ are preferably methyl.

A further possibility is a sulphobetaine of formula: ##STR4## where m is2 or 3, or variants of these in which --(CH₂)₃ SO₃ ⁻ is replaced by##STR5## R¹, R² and R³ in these formulae are as defined previously.

Suitable nonionic surface active agents include such as alkylpolysaccharides, lactobionamides, ethyleneglycol esters, glycerolmonoethers, polyhydroxyamides (glucamide), primary and secondary alcoholethoxylates, especially the C₈₋₂₀ aliphatic alcohols ethoxylated with anaverage of from 1 to 20 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.

The surfactant active agent is preferably present at a level of from 1to 45 wt %, preferably 3 to 30 wt %.

The composition according to the invention may contain skin benefitagents in addition to those forming part of the hydroxy material.

Other typical optional components for including in the composition ofthe invention are opacifiers; preservatives such as sorbate; astringentssuch as menthol and ethanol; emollients such as polyoxyalkylene methylglucosides; humectants such as glycerine; sorbitol and other polyhydroxyalcohols such as polyethylene glycol; suncreen agents such as octylmethoxyl cinnamate (Parsol MCX) and butyl methoxy benzoylmethane (Parsol1789); perfumes; bactericides; colourants; antioxidants; skin-feelmodifiers; and thickeners and structurants such as swelling clays andcross-linked polyacrylates eg Carbopol (TM) (polymers available fromGoodrich).

Numerous methods for preparing layered double hydroxides have beendescribed in the literature. One suitable method, for example, involvesthe treatment of a suspension of an oxide of one metal with a solublesalt, notably a nitrate, chloride or sulphate of another metal,preferably at an elevated temperature, followed by filtration of thesolid material.

Preparation of the hydroxy salts of formula (II) have been described inthe paper by Meyn, hereinbefore referenced, and, similarly, involvestreating a suspension of zinc oxide with copper oxide or nitrate,preferably at an elevated temperature, followed by filtration of thesolid material.

The hydroxy materials can be identified by chemical analysis for theelements present, and by X-ray diffraction.

Ion exchange to introduce the benefit agent into the hydroxy material iscarried out by suspending the hydroxy material in an aqueous solution ofthe anions which it is desired to introduce into the structure. Theprocess may be carried out at elevated temperatures to increase thespeed of reaction. The final solid product is then filtered off and maybe characterised by chemical analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and X-raypowder diffraction.

Different anions have different affinities for the interlayer site inthe hydroxy materials. In the layered double hydroxides it has beenfound that organic anions are able to displace sulphate, chloride andnitrate anions; thus these organic anions can be incorporated into thelayered double hydroxide by ion exchange. By contrast, carbonate ionswill displace both the organic anions and the inorganic anionshereinbefore mentioned. Accordingly layered double hydroxides withcarbonate as the interlayer anion should not be chosen as the startingmaterial if the skin benefit agent is incorporated by ion-exchange.

Layered double hydroxides with carbonate anions may be used as startingmaterials if the skin benefit agent is introduced by an aciddecomposition reaction as described by Reichle in Solid State Ionics1986, vol 22 page 135 or by a thermal decomposition-reformation processas described by Chibwe and Jones, J. C. S Chem Comm. 1989, page 926.

The invention will now be described with reference to the followingnon-limiting examples.

EXAMPLES Example 1

i) Preparation of Magnesium Aluminium Hydroxy Nitrate

46.8 g of magnesium oxide was suspended in 250 ml of distilled water ina one liter polypropylene screwcap bottle. 145.1 g of hydrated aluminiumnitrate (Al(NO₃)₃.9H₂ O) was dissolved in 500 ml of distilled water andthe resulting solution was added, with stirring, to the magnesium oxidesuspension. The bottle was capped, shaken vigorously for 2 minutes andthen placed in a thermostated oven for 5 days at 90° C. At the end ofthis period the solid was filtered off, washed thoroughly with water andthen freeze dried. The dried material was finally equilibrated withwater vapour by storing in a desiccator over a saturated sodium chloridesolution.

The chemical composition of this material was determined by analysis.The results were as follows:

Mole ratio Mg/Al=2.0

% MgO+Al₂ O₃ =49.8

% H₂ O (from dehydroxylation)=16.7

% NO₃ =23.2

This is consistent with a formula for the anhydrous material of

    Mg.sub.4 Al.sub.2 (OH).sub.12 (NO.sub.3).sub.2

The X-ray diffraction pattern of the hydrated material showed

i) the only crystalline material present was a layered double hydroxideanalogous to hydrotalcite. Characteristic line spacings at 1.48 Å and1.51 Å were present.

ii) there was a major line at 8.8 Å, which has been shown to becharacteristic of this interlayer nitrate containing material.

ii) Preparation of Mg/Al hydroxy lactate

54.14 g of L-(+)-lactic acid was dissolved in 300 ml water and added to24.00 g sodium hydroxide dissolved in 300 ml water. This solution wasthen added to 80 g of the nitrate formed in Example i) described above,in a 1 liter polypropylene bottle. The bottle was capped, shaken for 2minutes and then heated at 90° C. for 18 hours. The solid was filteredoff, washed with distilled water, and then freeze dried. The product wasfinally equilibrated with water vapour by storing it in a desiccatorover a saturated sodium chloride solution.

The chemical analysis was as follows:

% MgO+Al₂ O₃ =46.51

% C=11.31

This is consistent with a formula for the anhydrous material of Mg₄ Al₂(OH)₁₂ (lactate)₁.78 (NO₃)₀.22

The x ray diffraction pattern showed

i) the only crystalline material present was a layered double hydroxide.

ii) there was a major line at 14.6 Å which was not present in thestarting material.

IR Analysis of the product showed absorption peaks centred at 1140 cm⁻¹and 1596 cm⁻¹ which were not present in the nitrate form startingmaterial and are consistent with the presence of lactate ions.

iii) Preparation of Mg/Al hydroxy glycolate

Example 1 ii) was repeated except a solution comprising 45.6 g glycolicacid dissolved in 300 ml water and to 24.0 g of sodium hydroxidedissolved in 300 ml water was added to the nitrate formed in Example i)

The chemical analysis of the resulting product was:

% MgO+Al₂ O₃ =51.25

% C=9.23

This is consistent with a formula for the anhydrous material of Mg₄ Al₂(OH)₁₂ (glycolate)₁.97 (NO₃)₀.03

The x ray diffraction pattern showed

i) the only crystalline material present was a layered double hydroxide.

ii) there was a major line at 9.6 Å which was not present in thestarting material.

IR analysis of the product showed absorption peaks centred at 1103 cm⁻¹and 1608 cm⁻¹ which were not present in the nitrate form startingmaterial and are consistent with the presence of glycolate ions.

iv) Preparation of Mg/Al hydroxy Triclosan (phenylate anion form).

Example 1 ii) was repeated except a solution comprising 10.86 gtriclosan dissolved in 100 ml water and 1.5 g sodium hydroxide dissolvedin 50 ml water was added to 10 g of the nitrate formed in Example 1 i)and the resulting mixture heated for 3 days instead of 18 hours.

The chemical analysis of the resulting product was:

% MgO+Al₂ O₃ =29.35

% C=25.60

This is consistent with a formula for the anhydrous material of Mg₄ Al₂(OH)₁₂ (Triclosan)₁.5 (NO₃)₀.5

The x ray diffraction pattern showed

i) the only crystalline material present was a layered double hydroxide.

ii) there was a major line at 20 Å which was not present in the startingmaterial.

v) Preparation of Mg/Al hydroxy sorbate.

Example 1 ii) was repeated except a solution comprising 45.05 gpotassium sorbate dissolved in 500 ml water was added to 40 g of thenitrate formed in Example 1 i).

The chemical analysis of the resulting product was:

% MgO+Al₂ O₃ =40.08

% C=21.87

This is consistent with a formula for the anhydrous material of Mg₄ Al₂(OH)₁₂ (sorbate)₂

The x ray diffraction pattern showed

i) the only crystalline material present was a layered double hydroxide.

ii) there was a major line at 16.9 Å which was not present in thestarting material.

IR analysis of the product showed absorption peaks centred at 1155 cm⁻¹,1286 cm⁻¹, 1405 cm⁻¹, 1538 cm⁻¹, 1622 cm⁻¹ and 1652 cm⁻¹ which were notpresent in the nitrate starting material and are consistent with thepresence of sorbate ions.

Example 2

Ion Exchange of Mg/Al Hydroxy Lactate with Oleate (Sodium Salts andOleic Acid)

This example was carried out to simulate the interaction of a cosmeticcomposition according to the invention comprising Mg/Al hydroxy lactatewith sebaceous acids and anionic derivatives (oleic acid and sodiumoleate) present on the human skin.

0.5 g of Mg/Al hydroxy lactate, prepared as described above, wasdispersed in 10 ml of distilled water in a glass beaker. The dispersiontemperature was raised to 32° C., and then 12.5 ml of sodium oleatesolution⁺ (concentrations given in Table below), held at the sametemperature, was added. The resulting suspension was stirred vigorouslyfor 1 hour at 32° C. The resulting solid was filtered off, washed withwarm water, and then freeze dried. The exchange solution was retainedfor analysis.

The solid product was characterised by XRD, and thermal and chemicalanalysis. The exchange solution was analysed for lactate ions using ionchromatography.

                  TABLE I                                                         ______________________________________                                        Experimental Conditions                                                                                Molar ratio lactate in                                                        LDH.sup.‡: oleate in                      Code    Conc. sodium oleate sol..sup.+                                                                 solution                                             ______________________________________                                        A       0.125 molar      1:1                                                  B       0.063 molar      1:0.5                                                C       0.031 molar       1:0.25                                              D       0.013 molar      1:0.1                                                E       none             not applicable                                       ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE II                                                        ______________________________________                                        Analysis of Solid Product                                                     Code     Mole % oleate *                                                                            Basal spacing (XRD)                                     ______________________________________                                        A        89           32.5Å                                               B        39           32.0Å                                               C        15           14.8Å                                               D         1           14.6Å                                               E         0           14.6Å                                               ______________________________________                                         * mole % oleate = moles oleate/(moles oleate + moles lactate) × 100     .sup.‡ Layered Double Hydroxide                               

                  TABLE III                                                       ______________________________________                                        Analysis of Exchange Solution                                                        Lactate released into solution                                         Code   (% of total initially in the LDH)                                      ______________________________________                                        A      90%                                                                    B      63%                                                                    C      35%                                                                    D      19%                                                                    E      13%                                                                    ______________________________________                                    

The results demonstrate that oleate is taken up by the hydroxy materialat the expense of lactate which is released.

Ion Exchange of Lactate LDH with Oleate (Oleic Acid)

0.5 g of Mg/Al hydroxy lactate prepared as described above was dispersedin 22.5 ml of distilled water in a glass bottle. The dispersiontemperature was raised to 32° C., and then 0.442 g oleic acid was added.The resulting suspension was shaken vigorously for 10 minutes. The solidwas filtered off, washed with ethanol and then warm water. It was thenfreeze dried.

The solid product was analyzed by XRD, thermal analysis and chemicalanalysis.

XRD of the product showed the only crystalline phase present was alayered double hydroxide with a basal spacing of 32 Å which ischaracteristic of uptake of oleate into the structure.

Thermal and chemical analysis of the product gave a mole % of oleate inthe product of 65%, demonstrating that oleate had been taken up by thehydroxy material.

Example 3

Ion Exchange of Mg/Al Hydroxy Glycolate with Sodium Oleate

This example was carried out to simulate the interaction of a cosmeticcomposition according to the invention comprising Mg/Al hydroxy withsebaceous acids and anionic derivatives (sodium oleate) present on thehuman skin.

1 g of Mg/Al hydroxy glycolate, prepared as described above, wasdispersed in 20 ml of distilled water in a glass beaker. The dispersiontemperature was raised to 32° C., and then 25 ml of sodium oleatesolution (⁺ for concentrations see Table below), held at the sametemperature, was added. The resulting suspension was stirred vigorouslyfor 15 minutes at 32° C. The resulting solid was filtered off, washedwith warm water, and then freeze dried. The exchange solution wasretained for analysis.

The solid product was characterised by XRD, and thermal and chemicalanalysis. The exchange solution was analyzed for lactate ions using ionchromatography.

                  TABLE IV                                                        ______________________________________                                        Experimental conditions                                                                              Molar ratio glycolate in                               Code  Conc. sodium oleate sol..sup.+                                                                 LDH:oleate in solution                                 ______________________________________                                        A     0.154 molar      1:1                                                    B     0.077 molar      1:0.5                                                  C     0.039 molar      1:0.25                                                 ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE V                                                         ______________________________________                                        Analysis of Solid Product                                                     Code    Mole % oleate*  Basal spacing (XRD)                                   ______________________________________                                        A       100             33.9Å                                             B       58              36.9Å, 9.5Å                                   C       25               9.7Å, 36.7Å                                  ______________________________________                                         *mole % oleate = moles oleate/ (moles oleate + moles glycolate) ×       100                                                                      

                  TABLE VI                                                        ______________________________________                                        Analysis of Exchange Solution                                                           Glycolate released into                                                       solution (% of total                                                Code      initially in the LDH)                                               ______________________________________                                        A         84%                                                                 B         66%                                                                 C         43%                                                                 ______________________________________                                    

The results demonstrate that oleate is taken up by the hydroxy materialat the expense of glycolate which is released.

Example 4

Various types of cosmetic compositions according to the invention wereformulated as follows, where:

Carbomer is Carbopol 980 (Goodrich)

Cetearyl alcohol is Alfol 16-18 (Condea)

Ceteth-20 is Brij 58 (ICI)

Dimethicone is DC200 fluid (Dow Corning)

Glycerol is Pricerine 9058 (Unichema)

Glycerol monostearate is Estol 1473 (Unichema)

Isohexadecane is Arlamol HD (ICI)

Mica is Mica 280 (Whittaker Clark & Daniels)

Mineral oil is Sirius M85 (Silkolene)

PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil is Cremophor RH 40 (BASF)

Polydecene dimer is Ethylflo 362 NF (Ethyl Corp)

Silica bead is Silica bead S-700 (Miyoshi Kasei Inc)

Talc is Suprafino A (Cyprus Ind Minerals)

Trideceth-12 is Renex 30 (ICI)

Triethanolamine was from BDH

Xanthan gum is Rhodopol (Rhone-Poulenc)

Zinc stearate is Zinc Stearate USP-D (Witco)

    ______________________________________                                        COMPRESSED POWDER                                                             ______________________________________                                        Talc                 34.25                                                    Mg/Al hydroxy lactate                                                                              40.00                                                    mica 280             10.00                                                    Silica bead          9.00                                                     Pigments             0.50                                                     Zinc stearate        3.00                                                     Dimethicone (dimethyl                                                                              3.00                                                     polysiloxane)                                                                 Preservative         0.25                                                     ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                        LIQUID FOUNDATION                                                             ______________________________________                                        Mineral oil          10.00                                                    *Mg/Al hydroxy lactate                                                                             10.00                                                    Cetearyl alcohol     2.00                                                     Glycerol monostearate                                                                              0.50                                                     Ceteth-20 (POE (20)  0.50                                                     hexadecyl ether)                                                              Xanthan gum          0.30                                                     Glycerol             2.00                                                     Pigments             8.44                                                     Preservative         0.30                                                     Water*               66.26                                                    ______________________________________                                         *In the above formulation the Mg/Al hydroxy lactate and water may be          replaced by the following combination                                    

                  % wt                                                            Mg/Al hydroxy chloride                                                                       8.46                                                           Sodium lactate                                                                               4.50                                                           Water         63.30                                                       

    ______________________________________                                        MOISTURISING CREAM                                                            ______________________________________                                        Mineral oil          10.00                                                    Zn/Al hydroxy glycolate                                                                            10.00                                                    Cetearyl alcohol     2.00                                                     Glycerol monostearate                                                                              0.50                                                     Ceteth-20            0.50                                                     Xanthan gum          0.30                                                     Glycerol             2.00                                                     Preservative         0.30                                                     Water                74.40                                                    ______________________________________                                    

    ______________________________________                                        CLEANSING CREAM                                                               ______________________________________                                        Polydecene dimer      20.00                                                   Isohexadecane         10.00                                                   Mg/Al hydroxy lactate 10.00                                                   PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil                                                                      2.00                                                    Trideceth-12 (POE(12) tridecyl                                                                      0.30                                                    ether)                                                                        Cetearyl alcohol      3.00                                                    Preservative          0.30                                                    Carbomer              0.30                                                    Triethanolamine       0.30                                                    Water                 53.80                                                   ______________________________________                                    

We claim:
 1. A cosmetic composition comprising from 0.1 to 100% byweight of the composition of a hydroxy material selected from:a) layereddouble hydroxides of formula

    [M.sub.(1-a) N.sub.a (OH).sub.2 ].sup.y+ X.sup.X-.sub.y/x.zH.sub.2 O(I)

whereM is selected from divalent metal ions and lithium; N is atrivalent metal ion; X is an anion of charge x-; y+ is the net charge onthe mixed metal hydroxide cation; and when M is a divalent metal ion ais a number from 0.17 to 0.5 and y=a; when M is lithium a is a numberfrom 0.67 to 0.75 and y=(2a-1); and z is a number from 0 to 10; and b) ahydroxy salt of formula

    [M'(OH).sub.(2-a') ].sup.a'+ (X.sup.x-).sub.(a'/x).zH.sub.2 O(II)

whereM' is at least one divalent metal ion; a' is a number in the range0.05 to 1; X is an anion of charge x-; and z is a number from 0 to 10;or a c) mixture thereof andwherein X is trichloro-2hydroxy diphenylether wherein the hydroxy material releases the skin benefit agent viaion exchange.
 2. A method of treating the skin with the hydroxy materialof claim 1 which comprises applying an effective amount of said hydroxymaterial to the skin.